My left index finger is slightly handicapped. On Saturday, I accidentally slammed a sharp, pointed metal end of a keychain ring between my nail and the rest of my finger. There was some blood but I’ll cut out the graphic details. As a result, whenever I use my first finger on the violin, I have to bear the torture. You can imagine how a vibrato feels like.

I’ve heard “Above All” twice in the last 2 days, once in Chinese (I had to play it on Sunday during worship) and another time today (during chapel). I think this song is a good example in showing how meaning is lost through translation.

Compare this:

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

with this:

至高权 柄   至高神
超越全地一切被造万物
至高智慧   高过人的道路
唯有祢是全知全能神

至高国度    至高君
超越全地一切奇妙丰富
至尊至贵   胜过世界财富
天上地下唯一的爱慕

神羔羊   宝血为我流
胜死亡   荣耀地復活
耶稣   宝贵神羔羊
为我受死   为我复活   神羔羊

Especially the chorus. The rather powerful imagery in the original English version is nearly, if not completely, lost in the Chinese translation.

Today, I managed to meet Jie Ying in smss (I just realised I can’t type “school” anymore) after weeks of not seeing her around. I think I was quite excited while on 165. I’ll be involved in the concert that’s coming up next next week. Ok that’s all for now. I need to go recharge my brain cells.